Dawn-how does freestyle work

[monsterwolfgang]

We have sailed a number of different times, Celebrity X 2, Holland America, Princess, Carnival (a last minute for $50 a day on a 5*-the wife would still not do it again for half of that even...) and we will be cruising the Med. in September 2006. This however, is our first time at freestyle. I bought this on a whim on an auction so was not able to do much research. We are travelling from Toronto and meeting up with my wife's cousin and hubby from New York. Our usual travelling companions. We are from Toronto, they are from New York-guess who is the quieter of the two couples...Even though I did not research this much, it appears many of you love this style, and, as I am sure you will agree, it is the positive attitudes of the guests that make the trip. We plan on having a great time regardless of any obsticles.

 

Can someone explain to me how the freestyle dining works. Are there long line-ups?Are there better times to go? Do you have any tips? With set seatings there are two shows; how does it work on NCL.?

 

We are familiar with the paid restaurants from the other lines, and, thanks to some of the postings and tips listed here, we will ensure that we take full advantage of them while on board.

Thanks in advance.

[Ruski007]

Heya Hiya Wolfgang... we have a roll call...Meet you there!

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=211572&page=11

 

Here is my thread about a summary of tips that I did...

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=305772

 

As for the shows, I think there are still only 2 and based on which time you have dinner, you choose when to go.

 

As for freestyle dining (from what I've read here since this will be our first time on NCL as well) is basically you choose when and where to dine. For the non-reservation dining rooms, you just show up when you feel like it. You then tell the hostess what your table preference is. If you ask for a table for two, that's what you'll get. If you ask to be seated at a larger table (to meet other passengers, perhaps), that's what you'll get. Line ups happen from what I read but there are 3 dining rooms to try in case of a line. Otherwise, if going to specialty restaurant, try to reserve the night before or morning of... or go when they open and see if they have any openings. I'm also kinda nervous about the freestyle dining - we usually like to meet new people and dining was a great way but, then again, meeting people has never been a problem, either.

 

Here's a breakdown of the Dawn's dining venues:

 

Fast food/Buffets/Snacks

Garden Cafe Buffet

Bimini Bar & Grill

Blue Lagoon - 24/7 eatery

Pearly Kings Pub - Fish & chips

Ondeck BBQs

Late night snacks served in the casino

Room service - 24/7

 

Included, no reservations required

Aqua (smallest main dining room) - menu changes daily

Impressions (medium-size main dining room) - menu changes daily

Venetian (largest main dining room) - menu changes daily

 

Specialty Restaurants - included, reservations required

La Trattoria - Italian - same menu throughout cruise

Salsa - Tex-Mex - same menu throughout cruise

 

Specialty Restaurants - surcharge, reservations required

Bamboo- 3 eateries in 1 - Asian fusion restaurant / sushi bar / Teppanyaki

Cagney's Steakhouse

Le Bistro - French

 

 

Toronto is a happening place...so I can't tell which is the quieter couple... =)

 

1 month & 3 days away...

[KeystoneCruiser]

Let me see if I can clear this Freestyle up for you:

 

 

Freestyle basically means that you choose your dining experience. You choose WHEN you eat, you choose WHERE you eat, you choose with WHO you eat, you choose WHAT YOU WEAR to eat.

 

Here we go:

1.) There are no reservations for the main dining rooms. You simply walk up during their operating hours (5:30-9:30) and ask for a table like any shore side restaurant. There may be a wait during the peak times of 6:15-8:30, but usually less than 20 minutes.

 

2.) You do not have assigned table mates. You can choose to eat with just your family or you can ask to be seated with others if you want to meet new people like on traditional cruises. There is no "Captain's Table" and you most likely will not have the same waiter every night. You can request the same waiter however.

 

3.) The specialty restaurants require reservations and most have a cover charge of $15-$25 per person. Reservations should be made early.

 

4.) There is no required Formal night on any NCL ship. There is one OPTIONAL formal night during a 7 day cruise, but only about 40% dress up and those that do range from tuxes to shirt and tie. You can wear "resort casual" to all meals at all times in all venues on NCL ships. Resort casual means no jeans, sweats, warm-up suits, swimming attire, shorts or t-shirts. Most people wear a polo shirt and Kahkis or a nice sundress. That is why I like NCL so much!!

 

5.) There is no required tipping. $10 per person per day will be added to your onboard account to take care of tips for wait staff and room stewards. A 15% service fee is added to bar and spa tabs. You are certainly welcome to tip additionaly to those who have provided extrodinary service, but it is not necessary.

__________________

[kruisekathy]

I just got off the Dawn and I feel that freestyle really means no service. We were very disappointed with the cruise in general. We usually ate in the Venetian or Aqua. Service was slow and terrible. We did find 2 good waiters, asked for them each night but were not able to get them. We had dinner at 6 and were not able to make the 7:30 show. Obviously neither did a lot of people because it wasn't crowded and we were able to find seats well after the show began. About half the nights there was only 1 show.

[Ralphinsc]

I just got off the Dawn and I feel that freestyle really means no service. We were very disappointed with the cruise in general. We usually ate in the Venetian or Aqua. Service was slow and terrible. We did find 2 good waiters, asked for them each night but were not able to get them. We had dinner at 6 and were not able to make the 7:30 show. Obviously neither did a lot of people because it wasn't crowded and we were able to find seats well after the show began. About half the nights there was only 1 show.

 

I've read all twleve of your post and so far, you haven't found a single positive thing to post about. Perhaps freestyle just isn't your cup of tea. I hope you find a cruise in the future that works for you.

[upstatecruiser]

I am also just off the Dawn and I will tell you to that we were very disappointed in the dawn and the "wonderful" freestyle cruising. I have never had such horrible service on any cruise I have been on before. I won't beat around the bush on this one, because I followed these threads for weeks before I left and I was so excited to get on, and when I did it was such a let down.

If you have cruised other lines I can almost guarentee you will not enjoy freestyle. Your service is nothing like you expect on any other line. You never have the same waiter even if you request a good one ( which they are hard to find). So at dinner you never get to know your wait staff and they could care less about you. I have two children who love to cruise and we enjoy the dining room so much because they are treated so special, drinks always waiting, the staff ready to get their order as soon as you come in, the staff playing with them. Don't expect that we had to beg for most things for our kids and they were lucky if their food was there when we got our main entrees.

Sorry to rant but Freestyle to me = long waits, poor service and disappointment!:( :( :(

[Mooder]

I feel I must add my 2 cents. I think the problem here is with expectations. I never cruised on any other line and I think the service on NCL is spectacular. I am very picky with restaurant service and I found it to be as good as any fine restaurant. (my brother will walk out if the water is not refilled fast enough and he loves NCL) I found the waiters and waitresses friendly and accommodating, and while I developed favorites I did not feel a need to ask for specific waiters because they were all good. Some outstanding, but all fine. But on numerous occasions, sitting at the tables right next to us and getting the exact same service, passengers have been complaining about service I found wonderful. When we spoke to these people, in every case they were used to "traditional" cruising and were disappointed that their tea or cocktail or whatever was not waiting for them when they sat down. If you love traditional cruising, want the waiter to know your name, etc., you may well be disappointed, but it would be stretch to say that any waiter I have ever seen on an NCL ship was giving "horrible" service.

[monsterwolfgang]

Thanks for the information:)

[sjbdtz]

Who are you cruising the Med with in September? We're on the Med cruise Sep 3rd on the Jewel.... will be awesome!

 

10 restaurants on board, I can choose to eat in any of them. Just like in a real city.

 

I don't understand which cities these people come from where no matter what restaurant they walk into, the servers know them, have their drinks ready (as if the waiter gets to choose what they'll drink), etc.

 

It's surreal, and I know I would hate it.

 

I'm also on vacation. I wear a suit to work. Last thing I want to do on vacation is have to dress up. Heck....I don't even PACK a suit jacket!

 

Freestyle all the way.

 

Oh....and I'm from Toronto too!

[monsterwolfgang]

We are cruising with RC in September. We did not want to take such a momentous vacation on a line that we were not really familiar with. (Although freestyle would have reduced our packing requirements, and my need to carry the bags...:;) .

 

Some of the people that we travel with are not always big on the suit and tie thing (I am quite comfortable either way) so we thought we would try freestyle on a Caribbean sail to see how it goes and pass on our recommendations to the rest of our group that could not make it this time.

 

I do admit that I enjoy the same server throughout the cruise, my favorite drink waiting for me and other personal touches that comes with this service. However, the freedom of eating when we are ready is rather appealing. I am the type that plans ahead and likes to sit at the bar closest to the dining room having a drink with our friends and other guests when the dining room doors open for our seating. Unfortunately my wife is usually turning her hair- dryer on when they open the doors of the diningroom for our seating...I think freestyle just might be an excellent compromise!

I am quite looking forward to a couple of weeks on the Dawn. I am positive that it will be great fun and very relaxing.

[sjbdtz]

We are cruising with RC in September. We did not want to take such a momentous vacation on a line that we were not really familiar with. (Although freestyle would have reduced our packing requirements, and my need to carry the bags...:;) .

 

Some of the people that we travel with are not always big on the suit and tie thing (I am quite comfortable either way) so we thought we would try freestyle on a Caribbean sail to see how it goes and pass on our recommendations to the rest of our group that could not make it this time.

 

I do admit that I enjoy the same server throughout the cruise, my favorite drink waiting for me and other personal touches that comes with this service. However, the freedom of eating when we are ready is rather appealing. I am the type that plans ahead and likes to sit at the bar closest to the dining room having a drink with our friends and other guests when the dining room doors open for our seating. Unfortunately my wife is usually turning her hair- dryer on when they open the doors of the diningroom for our seating...I think freestyle just might be an excellent compromise!

I am quite looking forward to a couple of weeks on the Dawn. I am positive that it will be great fun and very relaxing.

 

 

You'll have a great time on the Dawn. Be sure to make a reservation one evening for Le Bistro. There is over $200 million of original old masters art in there (Monet, Van Gogh, Renoir). These are museum quality pieces from the Owner's own collection.

 

When we travelled on the Dawn, the Art Director offered a tour of the ship's art, and described the pieces and their value. It was quite interesting & informative.

 

If you are taking the staircases for instance, remember that on each landing, there are Flowers (forward); Marilyn Monroe (in the middle), and Sunsets (a-stern).

 

One of the best things about Freestyle is that you can have TWO favorite drinks, and not worry about which one is waiting for you! :)

 

 

Where are you in the T dot? We're on the edge of Yorkville, facing Rosedale.

 

Stephen

[monsterwolfgang]

We are from 10 mins. north of you on the 'better way' just off of Yonge in Lastman territory.

 

Does anyone know what the set-up in the gym is like, and, at what time it opens at? I have found that the gym is busy the first number of days and then dies down once the novelty wears off.

 

Further, does the Dawn have a walking track up top? I normally need more exercise than normal due to the quantities of food that I do not plan on eating but no doubt will.

[sjbdtz]

We are from 10 mins. north of you on the 'better way' just off of Yonge in Lastman territory.

 

Does anyone know what the set-up in the gym is like, and, at what time it opens at? I have found that the gym is busy the first number of days and then dies down once the novelty wears off.

 

Further, does the Dawn have a walking track up top? I normally need more exercise than normal due to the quantities of food that I do not plan on eating but no doubt will.

 

That's cool. We used to live in Avondale (Y & S) until last year. There is a walking / jogging track outside. Others may be able to answer the question about the gym.

 

Stephen

[jeannep]

Wolfgang,

Hopefully, you will love the Dawn as we have. She is a beautiful ship with a very friendly crew.

 

We have sailed her 3 times and only one meal in all those times had an unfriendly waiter. We usually ate in the three main restaurants and were very happy. We loved Impressions best but also enjoyed the others. We have been on traditional dining ships and have not always been impressed by our waiters. It never made the cruise less enjoyable.

 

Enjoy your cruise!!

 

Jeanne

[Cuizer2]

I was on the Star in October and wrote a long review, which goes into great detail regarding Freestyle dining. It comes early in the review, so you don't have to read the entire review ... http://www.cruise-critic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=13327

[cruiselovers04]

Wolfgang,

 

You will be pleased to know that the gym on the Dawn is 24 hours. We sailed on the 2/12 Blizzard cruise and found service in the dining rooms good. However, our room stewards gave us some trouble but we still had a great time... loved the idea of Freestyle just wish Ncl would make a few changes to it...such as... they have 3 different dining rooms why not have 3 different menus in them.... well.. that was our prospective on freestyle... The food quality was not what we got on the other ships so based on that and the service issues we had we will not do NCL again.. but.. as said we did have a great time.. just for the money we paid.. found we would have been happier on the other lines.. even if we had to have traditional dining..

 

I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful cruise... As i said we had a great time... even though we won't do it again.. not everyone has the same opinion so you just have to try for yourself.. and make the best of the experiences that you have..

 

cheryl